Fixture reflector aligner



J n 1952 v R. E. KINGSTON ET AL 2,600,884

FIXTURE REFLECTOR ALIGNER Filed July 14, 1950 7 INVENTORS RONALD E. KINGSTON RQBERT G. MARCHISIO Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIXTURE REFLECTOR ALIGNER Application July 14, 1950, Serial No. 173,802

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to electric lighting fixtures and more particularly to fixtures employing elongated tubular light sources, such as fluorescent lamps.

In certain fluorescent lighting installations it has been found desirable to mount a plurality of fixtures end-to-end to provide a continuous row thereof. The appearance of this type may be enhanced considerably by utilizing some means to at least partially conceal the break between adjacent, fixtures and thereby more closely simulate a single fixture having a plurality of lamps. The appearance of installations of this type may be further enhanced and considerable rigidity imparted thereto by strapping the abutting ends of adjacent fixtures to one another to insure proper alignment thereof.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide a device for aligning the abutting ends of pairs of fluorescent lighting fixtures.

The device of our invention is a latch hooked onto the adjacent ends of the reflectors of a pair of fluorescent lamp fixtures disposed in end-toend relationship to one another.

In the following description and in the accompanying drawing, a specific embodiment of the device of our invention is described and illustrated with reference to a specific type of fiuorescent lighting fixture. Other modifications of the device and their adaptability to fixtures other than those of the type shown and described will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Further objects, advantages and features will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a fluorescent lighting fixture arrangement of the type with which the device of our invention may be employed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the fluorescent lighting fixture arrangement of Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the device of our invention.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, each lighting fixture comprises a chassis I from which a reflector 2 is supported through a strap 3 attached to the chassisl and a spring-actuated latch 4 which depends from the strap 3 and engages the reflector 2. The latch 4 comprises a latch finger 5 and a spring 6. Each fixture is provided with a pair of lampholders 1, one at each end therein which the lamps 8 are supported. The

2 adjacent ends of the reflectors 2 of fixtures 9 and I0 and Ill and ll are joined by an aligner l2.

The reflector aligner 12 comprises a looped wire [3 to which straps l4 and [5 are connected. Strap I4 is curved in configuration, its curvature being substantially the same as that of the reflectors 2. One end of the strap I4 is provided with a hook 16 which seats in a channel I! provided therefor in the top of the ends of the reflectors 2. One end of the strap I5 is also provided with a hook, designated by reference numeral [8, which engages the lower longitudinal peripheral edge of the adjacent ends of reflectors 2. In Figure 3, at the left side thereof, the aligner I2 is shown in the relaxed position. Tightening of the aligner is effected by application of pressure thereto at the point at which the strap 15 thereof is connected to the looped wire member 13. The aligner is shown in the locked position at the right side of Figure 3.

What we claim is:

In combination, a pair of lighting fixtures having curved reflectors disposed in end-to-end abutting relationship, each of said reflectors having a channel cut therein in the upper transverse abutting edges and at the ends thereof; and a latch attached to said pair of abutting fixtures, said latch comprising a first strap bent to conform substantially to the contour of said reflectors and having a hook formed at each end thereof, the hook at one end being seated in the channels in the upper transverse abutting edges of the abutting reflectors, a second strap of resilient material bent to substantially arcuate shape and having a hook formed at each end thereof, the hook on one end engaging the lower longitudinal peripheral edges of the abutting reflectors, and a looped wire pivotally connecting said straps to one another through the hooks formed in the adjacent ends thereof.

RONALD E. KINGSTON. ROBERT G. MARCHISIO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,737,995 Cooke Dec. 3. 1929 1,848,276 Smythe et al. Mar. 8, 1932 2,368,819 Donnelly Feb. 6, 1945 2,525,315 Shepmoes Oct. 10. 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 560,802 Great Britain Apr. 20. 1944 

